The temperatures may be warming up in Phoenix, but we're faring better than our friends on the East Coast.
Instead of winter jackets and shovels, we've got shorts, sunglasses, and craft beer. And wine. And unlimited salsa samples!
We found more than a dozen food and drink events happening around the Valley this month. See them below:
April 13 | Beer N' Bones at The Arizona Museum of Natural History: People 21 and up will be able to walk around the museum, speed-date a scientist, drink craft beer and eat from food trucks at this annual fundraiser. Admission is $20-$25 and includes a glass, t-shirt and food-and-drink tickets. More information.
April 14 | Chandler Crafts Spirits Festival: Sample vodka, whiskey, tequila, gin and other spirits from Arizona and boutique distilleries. The festival moved to downtown Chandler this year. The event runs 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. and tickets are still available. More information.
April 14 | Festival of Lights Wine Tasting Festival: Some 20 restaurants, distilleries, breweries and wineries will be at Rawhide Western Town for this annual festival. The event runs 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 each and include all samples. More information.
April 14-15 | My Nana's Best Tasting Salsa Challenge: Spend the day at Sloan Park, the Spring Training home of the Chicago Cubs, and taste over 100 salsas prepared by Valley chefs and restaurants. The event is all-you-can-eat and benefits the Arizona Hemophilia Association. Tickets start at $15. More information.
April 14-15 | Scottsdale Culinary Festival: More than 30 chefs, restaurants and food trucks will be at the 40th annual Scottsdale Culinary Festival with food and drinks available for purchase. Everclear and Eve6 will headline the event on Saturday, while 20 other bands will perform throughout the weekend. General admission is $12-$15 and gets you into the festival, cooking demos and music areas. More information.
April 14-15 | Polish Festival: The 15th annual Polish Festival at Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, near I-17 and Country Gables Drive, will have polka dance competitions, a pierogi-eating contest, and Polish food for sale. Admission and parking are free. More information.
April 15 | Best of the Fest: Chefs from seven Valley restaurants will create a five-course dinner at this signature event to end the Scottsdale Culinary Festival. Each course is paired with wine. There will also be live music. This is a 21+ event. Individual tickets are $175. More information.
April 19-22 | Nirvana Food & Wine Festival: Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa will host the second annual Nirvana Food & Wine Festival with ten food and drink events. The events will feature local and national chefs, including Mora Italian's Scott Conant, Sanctuary's Beau MacMillan, Beckett's Tables's Justin Beckett, and Audrey Enriquez, of Hotel Valley Ho. Events vary from $135-$300 per person. Some have already sold out. More information.
April 21 | The Great Southwest Cajun Fest, Boil & Brew: This Cajun-style food festival returns to downtown Chandler's Dr. A.J. Chandler Park. More than a dozen restaurants have signed up to make and sell Louisiana-style foods, including crawfish, Jambalaya, etouffee, Creole shrimp and hush puppies. Little Hurricane and The Urban Renewal Project will perform on the stage. General admission is $10-$15 and includes access to the festival, music and extra activities. Food and drink are extra. More information.
April 28 | The Good Life Festival with Jake Owen: Country singer Jake Owen will headline Encanterra's annual open house and wine-tasting festival. More information.
April 28 | AmeriCan Canned Beer Fest: If you love craft beer, you probably want to add this festival to the list. General admission gets you 20 tickets to sample more than 250 craft beers from 100 local and national breweries. The festival will also have live music, beer seminars, food trucks and Olympic-style beer games. More information.
April 28 | Original Taste: This upscale food-and-wine event is put on yearly by the Executive Council 70. It features samples from more than 40 chefs and restaurants around the Valley and 50 wines from around the world. It runs 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. at Scottsdale Waterfront. Tickets vary between $125-$275. More information.
April 28 | 2018 FOODStock Festival: More than 75 food trucks will be at Peoria Sports Complex for the second Foodstock Festival. Admission is $5. Parking is free. Each food truck with have a $3 sample-sized item. The event runs 12 p.m. - 9 p.m. More information.
